Serum starvation - something similar for serum-free kept cells ?

Hi, got a general question: Is there anything equivalent to serum starvation for cells that are regularly kept in serum-free media (e.g. stem cells) ? I mean some that technique that would also synchronize the cells and/or reduce background signaling noise from media components.

(I once tried withdrawing supplement and growth factors but then my suspension cells turned strangely semi-adherent and began to look sick.)

Hi, got a general question: Is there anything equivalent to serum starvation for cells that are regularly kept in serum-free media (e.g. stem cells) ? I mean some that technique that would also synchronize the cells and/or reduce background signaling noise from media components.

(I once tried withdrawing supplement and growth factors but then my suspension cells turned strangely semi-adherent and began to look sick.)

Or if you're just synchronising your cells (i presume to keep them in the same cell cycle at G0-G1)? You only have to do that for 24-72h depending on cell type. Then switch it back to serum-containing media. Or you can try chemically-based synchronisation (e.g. roscovitine, aphidicolin, and colchicine) in the presence of serum.

Thanks for the suggestions. but as I said, the cells I have are already in serum-free (but growth factor and B27-supplement added) medium. They have to be kept in serum-free medium as the presence of serum would completely differentiate them. I was wondering if there is an equivalent technique to serum starvation for cells that don't have serum in their medium in the first place.